Rajjo director: I was doubtful about Kangna's dancing skills

Rajjo director: I was doubtful about Kangna's dancing skills

Vishwas Patil, who makes his directorial debut with the Kangna Ranaut starrer, Rajjo, on November 15, seems to be a rather unconventional Bollywood aspirant.

Here's why...

He is an IAS officer.

He is also a historian and a novelist whose books have been published in 14 languages.

Two of his books -- Panipat and Mahanayak (based on Subhash Chandra Bose) -- are bestsellers in Hindi and Marathi.

Another novel, Zadazadati, won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992.

Patcy N finds out what compelled this academician and award-winning author to turn his attention to cinema.

How come a historian and IAS officer decided to get into films?

I started my career as a film journalist in Kolhapur. It is an inspiring city. Indian cinema was born in Kolhapur as Prabhat Film Company (formed in 1929 by V Shantaram).

From V Shantaram to Bhalji Pendharkar and Ashutosh Gowarikar, they are all from Kolhapur. I had been interested in films from the beginning.

How did Bollywood happen?

Direction was my ambition and I was looking for opportunities to get into it.

I shifted to Mumbai about 20 years ago because of a job transfer. For the last eight years I have worked as assistant to the great cinematographer Binod Pradhan.

I worked hard to gain the technical knowledge. To become a director you need to be technically sound only then can you control your cast and crew. If you are not prepared within half an hour, your cast and crew will know how far you can go.

I acquired the technical knowledge from working with Binod Pradhan on many films.

I was also the joint Managing Director of Filmcity for three-and-a-half years, from 1990 to 1994. I had a good rapport with Naushadsaab and Dilip Kumar.

Dilip Kumar was directing a film called Kalinga at that time. I would often go on the sets because he liked me a lot. I unofficially assisted him too.

'I had approached Rajat Bharmecha for the male lead role but he asked me to go through his company'

I wanted an actor who was around 18 or 19 years of age and we don’t have any hero in that age group. Here, 40-year-olds play 18- and 19-year-olds. I knew what I wanted. There was no alternative to Paras.

I had approached Rajat Bharmecha who had worked in Udaan, but he told me I would have to go through his company. I thought it was a long process and I did not want to go through all that.

After that I called Paras. He was very enthusiastic. He worked really hard.

Was it difficult since Paras was new to films?

I had my doubts.

Paras had worked in the television serial Veer Shivaji. Binod Pradhan had told me that actors who act in mythological and historical serials find it difficult to adapt to normal acting.